Wee Noise Makers PGB-1, a pocket-sized open-source groovebox and MIDI sequencer packed with sound engines, is available now
Update: I added a first look from SynthFest France 2026
Two years ago, Fabien Chouteau presented the open-source PGB-1 mini groovebox with a mighty sound core. Since October 2025, the PGB-1 has been available for regular purchase for 279€ or 309€.
There is now good news for all users. Just before SynthFest France 2026, firmware version 1.3 is now available with new features.
Wee Noise Makers PGB-1 firmware 1.3
Firmware 1.3 is now available for free download for all users. The new update includes many new creative features in many areas.
The PGB-1 has had an astonishingly large arsenal of drum engines since day one, putting many larger grooveboxes from major players to shame. Fabien has expanded this even further in firmware 1.3 for the hi-hats, giving users even more sound design options.
In addition to the existing 707 and 909 sample-based engines, update 1.3 introduces new 808, 505, LM2, CR78, MRK2, and acoustic hi-hats engines. All of them are available in low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass variants, giving more tonal flexibility.
The sampler engines also got a makeover and now come with glide for smooth pitch transitions between notes, with both fast and slow variants. There are also new pitch-shifter engines that shift samples up or down by 1 or 2 octaves.
Firmware 1.3 also overhauls the LFO system. They now have new operation modes (additive, subtractive, and bipolar) as well as a new random shape. The controls have also been reorganized to make features like sync and looping more intuitive.
On top of that, the LFO system now has a clear visual feedback, showing exactly how modulation affects parameters in real time.
Better Mixing & Effects
Alongside this, the PGB-1 project mixer has got a facelift. The view lets you monitor and adjust levels across different stages, such as tracks, effects, and the final output, with visual indicators to warn you about clipping.
There are also dedicated pages to control the volume and stereo panning of all tracks at once, and to assign or review which effects are applied to each track, making it easier to work with.
The new firmware also adds a Live FX setting menu, giving you deeper control over performance effects. The previous limitation of the autofill feature has been eliminated, and it can now be applied to any track.
The behavior is also now fully customizable with adjustable probability settings. On the algorithm side, the filter and stutter effects are now fully tweakable. For example, you can create your own rhythm patterns in the stutter FX step by step with custom fades in and out.
Firmware 1.3 not only brings new engine functionality. It also introduces a new web-based sample manager (beta) that lets you manage samples more easily.
It offers all the classic sample manager features, including previewing sounds, editing start and end points, applying effects, dragging and dropping audio files, backups, and more.
Oh, not to forget: Wee Noise Makers has also created an official user manual for the PGB-1. This goes deeper in the features than the previous quick start guide. With this many features, a manual is always welcome.
The new firmware 1.3 is available now as a free update for existing users. Fabien also said that a second production batch is available now with a couple of small hardware changes, including a black screen and a new battery door.
Even though it’s only a .3 update, it has the scope of a major update. It’s great to see how much work is still being put into this compact groovebox after its release.
An update video will very likely be available as part of the Synth Anatomy SynthFest France 2026 coverage. So stay tuned.
Available from my partner
Perfect Circuit
Update from October 6, 2025
Good news from Wee Noise Makers: the PGB-1 pocket-sized groovebox and MIDI sequencer is available.
The plastic version is $299/279€, and the alu version is $349/309€ at the official web shop and retailers.
Update from April 21, 2025
Last year at SFF 24, the French company Wee Noise Makers unveiled the PGB-1 pocket-sized groovebox PGB-1. A special feature of it, despite its miniature form factor, is its powerful open-source firmware.
Now the PGB-1 is nearing completion. Fabien presented the finished version to me at SynthFest France 2025, and it will go into production very soon.
PGB-1 SynthFest France 2025
The full feature set is in the second part of the article, published in 2024. In short, the Wee Noise Makers PGB-1 is a groovebox with eight sound tracks, six of which are synthesis-based and two of which use samples with up ot 62 seconds of total sample memory.
It currently has 19 different sound engines, many of which are drum synth engines for the kick, snare, and other instruments. Plus, there is also a polyphonic synth on a synth track.
In total, the PGB-1 has 16 tracks on which you can use the internal sound engines or MIDI tracks. This allows you to use the PGB-1 as a standalone MIDI sequencer with your external gear. And the sequencer is pretty powerful.
It has 16 tracks, each with 16 patterns of 16 steps. It also comes with a chord mode, a chord sequencer, and 16 arpeggiators, one for each track. Neat, you can also add complexity using live sequencer effects.
The groovebox can be powered with a USB-C cable and has a built-in battery that lasts for +/- five hours. The finished version shown at SynthFest France 2025 featured a built-in speaker.
It’s fascinating how powerful this tiny groovebox is. I’m very excited to see the first demos from musicians with the final version.
The Wee Noise Makers PGB-1 will be available for 239€ in the plastic enclosure version and 279€ for the black aluminum version. You can find all the details on the official website.
The delivery date for January 2025 didn’t work out, but they hope to release it in the next few months, around Summer. Good for third-party developers, the firmware is already open-source.
Article from April 27, 2024
This year’s SynthFest France 2024 featured many exciting products and projects. The open-source character was particularly present at the event, also seen in the first product from Wee Noise Makers.
The young, French company has introduced the PGB-1, a super portable groovebox and MIDI sequencer.
Wee Noise Makers PGB-1
Yes, at 10 x 6.6 x 1.5 cm, it’s very handy and fits in any pocket. The PGB’s design is unique. To make it as compact as possible, the groovebox has no knobs but only 30 buttons with which you can program like a retro gaming console.
A touch slider also offers an additional way to adjust parameters besides the 128 x 64 monochrome OLED screen. Plus, the 24 RGB LEDs are fully addressable.
The PGB-1 has a small size but has a powerful groovebox engine. The Noise Nugget with two Raspberry Pi RP240 microcontrollers powers the unit.
According to the developers, the firmware will be open-source, so users can delve into the code, modify existing features, or add entirely new creative functions.
PGB-1 Sequencer
The stock firmware of the PGB-1 has 16 tracks that can be used with audio or MIDI. So, you can also use it as an external MIDI sequencer with other synths, making it one of the smallest MIDI sequencers on the market. And it’s pretty powerful.
Each track has up to 16 patterns with 16 steps each that can be saved in the unit. Plus, you get 16 arpeggiators (one per channel), and creative functions such as step repeats, ratcheting, pattern chaining, chord sequencing, song mode, and more.
The 8-voice sound engine is just as extensive. Synthesis and sampling are on board. The synthesis part has six voices divided into three drum synths, bass, lead, and chord parts. There are currently 19 different synth engines onboard, including virtual analog, drum models such as kick, snare… and more.
In addition to the 6-voice synthesis engine, it also comes with two voices for mono samples. Further, you have four global effects (reverb, overdrive, filter, bit-crusher), and each instrument can be routed through on effect. Cool, you can also route external gear via the audio input through the effects.
Connectivity
On the connection side, it offers a USB-C port for power and data, a 3.5mm headphone socket, a 3.5mm audio stereo line input, and TRS type-A MIDI in/out. Plus, there is an internal microphone for capturing sounds.
The unit can be either powered by a rechargeable and replaceable Li-ion battery or via the USB-C port. Fabien, the developer, says you can play with it for around 5-6 hours.
First Impression
Fascinating to see how much sound technology fits into such a small device. For mobile musicians who like things ultra-compact, this new groovebox from France could be very exciting. The feature set is great and I’m excited to see what the open source community will do with it.
You can now support the Wee Noise Makers PGB-1 groovebox via the CrowdSupply crowdfunding campaign for $249. Shipping starts in January 2025. They will be at Superbooth 24 at booth H190.
More information here: CrowdSupply Wee Noise Makers
This is one of the few times where the piece of gear was even SMALLER than the pics initially made me think it was. The thing is dwarfed by the Volca Keys.
Not my cup of tea being that small, but it seems really cool for what it does. Amazing work!
Another stupid step sequencer. Where are the LINEAR sequencers?
Wish they would add some way to export stems or, at least, the mixed down version of the song. I never understand groove boxes that don’t offer any way to get the song out of the machine beyond having to record it, analog-style.